Depending on the treatment recommended, a physician order may not be necessary, however, insurance companies generally require a physician referral for insurance reimbursement. Check with your insurance plan for your specific contract with them.

As parents, we generally adapt ourselves and the home environment for our children to be the most successful. Do you feel your child is still struggling in the following areas as compared to other children:

Then your child may need therapy. If your child hits their head (sports or otherwise) and they have persisting symptoms, therapy can help with improving processing of information, organization, emotional regulation, and visual skills.

If you have concerns about your child’s ability to function like other children their age, an evaluation directed toward the areas of concern is recommended.

Parents may call for a brief phone consult to be directed in the correct direction. We recommend you talk to your child’s physician regarding your concerns. Your physician may or may not refer you to Kidsense for an evaluation.

You may still schedule an evaluation without a physician referral, but your insurance may/ may not pay for the services without a referral. The timing of learning skills is important with children. It is O.K to call and ask vs. waiting to see!

We know that fluids of the body comprise 60-70% of our total body weight and inhabits multiple compartments. These fluids are in a continuous state of communication as well as in flux. There is constant change and renewal.

Studies show, that most cranial sutures (lines between sections of the skull) remain mobile throughout a person’s lifespan and most never completely ossify (bind or harden). Living sutures contain connective tissue, blood vessels and nerves. They maintain articular (vein and artery) function and serve as crossroads of metabolic motion and somatic (body) information.

Cranial sacral therapy works with cranial sacral rhythmic impulses. Every 6-12 minutes there is movement of the cerebral spinal (CS) fluid through the body. Cranial sacral therapy connects with those subtle movements of the cranial impulses. By doing certain holds on the scull, spine and sacrum, as well as places throughout the body, the pathways are opened up for the Cerebral spinal fluid to flow freely and naturally. Treatment helps to regulate the central nervous system by opening up a clear pathway for CS fluid exchange. Waste products are created regularly from CS fluid as well as other parts of the body. If its not flowing it creates pockets of areas in the body and brain for disease. Fluid exchange is essential to health, so treatment helps calm the CNS and assist the body’s systems to eliminate waste products.

Rather than focusing on the disease, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral therapy listens to the health. It listens to the whole and focuses on what is right. Health guides the treatment.

The embryo, in its perfect form, serves as a blue print for your body’s ability to heal itself. The formative, absorptive, and regenerative fluid forces that organize embryological development are present throughout our lifespan. Those forces of embryogenesis become the forces of healing after birth. In other words, the same fluid dynamic that is involved in embryological development is present throughout your life. Everything that you need to re-establish a course of wellness is present in your body.

To sum it up: Jim Jealous DO, who brought us biodynamics states: “The geometric configuration of the human body , as well as the metabolic processes, are present before the central nervous system develops….The innate wisdom is not contained within the cellular structure…the Original design and function is in the fluids of the embryo…the forces of embryogenesis become the forces of healing in adults.” Fluid exchange is essential to health. “ the cerebral spinal fluid is the highest known element that is contained in the human body, and unless the brain furnishes this fluid in abundance, a disabled condition of the body will remain.”

What does the therapy look like?

The therapy is non-invasive. There is gentle contact or holding which may include the skull, spine, sacrum, as well as other parts of the body (foot, ankle…) . Your child may calm and even fall asleep.

Physical Therapy is a health care profession concerned with prevention and management of movement disorders arising from conditions and diseases occurring throughout the lifespan.

A physical therapist is trained in anatomy, neuroanatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Specifically to pediatrics, a physical therapist studies childhood development of gross motor movement.

A physical therapist will evaluate a patient, then create goals, develop and facilitate a treatment plan.

With very young children, treatment is centered mostly around developmental and age appropriate play activities, which could include gross motor movement training, enhancing motor control and motor planning, therapeutic exercise, balance facilitation, training with mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, or braces and consultation with parents and educators.

Occupational Therapists and other professionals now incorporate sound based technologies using sophisticated sound technology and music. This specially modified and filtered music produces specific effects allowing therapists to approach the auditory and vestibular system directly, having a tremendous effect on total brain functioning.

Therapeutic Listening® is a structured program in which the child listens to a series of specifically designed music planned for each individual’s evaluated needs. The child may be engaged in particular activities to further enhance the treatment while listening to the portable CD’s twice a day for 30 minute sessions. There are 4 main areas of treatment response:

Sensory integration is an innate neurobiological process that refers to the integration and interpretation of sensory stimulation from the environment. It is the brain’s ability to interpret and organize information from sensation for daily activity. Sensation includes: vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, balance, gravity, position and movement.

In contrast, sensory integrative dysfunction is a disorder in which sensory input is not integrated or organized appropriately in the brain.It may produce varying degrees of problems in development, information processing, and behavior. Problems that may arise in sensory integration include: learning issues, distractibility, hyperactivity, under-responsiveness to stimuli, poor coordination and balance, and contribute to difficulties at home work and play.

The theory of sensory integration and treatment has been developed by Dr. A. Jean Ayres from studies in the neurosciences and those pertaining to physical development and neuromuscular function. Extensive training and testing is required to become certified to provide the Sensory Integration and Praxis test.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is the more recent term used to clarify the disorder. SPD can be described as having 3 sub-types including Sensory Modulation Disorder or SMD (where one may be sensory over-responsive, sensory under-responsive, or sensory seeking/craving), Sensory Discrimination Disorder or SDD (difficulty discriminating differences using the senses), or lastly a Sensory-Based Motor Disorder or SBMD (where children may have difficulty with balance, vestibular processing, motor planning and posture).

To learn more go to http://www.spdfoundation.net or come to the free, monthly SPD Parent Connections Meeting held at Kidsense (541-386-0009).

For children this is play, self care (feeding, eating dressing, safety…), school, and social interactions. An occupational therapist studies anatomy, neurology, development, and is able to analyze activities for functional outcomes.

The occupational therapist assesses the whole person while assisting him or her to find and perform activities that are meaningful to their lives, enabling the person to increase function that may be delayed or declined as a result of a developmental disability, accident, medical or mental condition.

The occupation of childhood is to develop skills necessary to become a functional and independent adult. These skills include: regulation and arousal level to attend and participate, sensory discrimination and processing, refinement of motor and visual processing skills, effective social interaction and communication skills, cognitive skills, age appropriate self care skills, and self concept.

Adaptive equipment (such as switches, adapted tools, and splints), sensory integration techniques, and assistive technology may be implemented by the occupational therapist to achieve specific goals.

What is my role in therapy as a parent? ocncontrol
2013-08-08T12:05:15+00:00

Parent involvement is directly related to the Child’s success. Parents are always welcome to be present during therapy, although not required for the entire session. At Kidsense we talk with the parent at the end of the session for home programming as needed. Home programs vary for each child but generally range from 15 min/day to 2hrs/5days per week. It is important that a positive relationship is present between the therapist, the child, and the family. The therapist is responsible for leading the session and engaging the child in the “just right” challenges for success and growth. The parent is responsible for follow through at home and in the various social environments the child encounters.

NIS is a gentle, effective, treatment method that addresses the causes of your symptom patterns.

We evaluate and address areas of physiological and neurological functions that you may not be aware are possibly related to your complaint.The therapist uses a prioritized set of treatment protocols that evaluate neurological circuitry and the facets of body function they represent.

Healthcare with NIS has everything to do with the brain and is based on neuroscience. Muscle testing (scientifically validated as an indicator of altered physiological function [D.A. Monti, ET AL, 1999]) is used to determine whether the brain is in full dialogue with all body functions. Once a dysfunction has been identified the therapist uses gentle protocols with anatomical contract points, to help the brain “acknowledge” the dysfunction and reset the circuitry.

My child has an IEP or IFSP. Does my child need more services? ocncontrol
2013-08-08T12:00:25+00:00

All of our therapists have experience in the schools and in the clinic. They can differentiate the possible extra benefits of private therapy, so your therapist will make recommendations once your child is evaluated.

The major difference between school and clinic therapy is that the school focuses on helping the child learn in that specific environment. They attempt to find a nice balance between therapy at school, which is educationally directed, and time and education in the classroom. The clinic is more medically based, it focuses on the skills that are impacted in any environment especially home and the community. School as well uses a variety of specialized techniques that therapists receive extensive training for. These may include: Auditory integration, sensory integration, MNRI, NIS, NDT, massage, theratogs, cranial sacral therapy, oral motor techniques, casting and splinting, aquatic therapy.

In the clinic, we focus more on getting to the underling issues by making permanent neurological changes so the child can be successful in adapting to a variety of environments.

I’m an adult and I think I need therapy too. What should I do? ocncontrol
2013-01-29T17:25:22+00:00